Harrison Funerals strive to ensure that every family’s funeral experience is a positive one and through their care and service they are able to ease some of the grief and assist the healing process’. With the assistance of Fifteen Trees, Harrison Funerals plant one mature tree on the behalf of every family who use their service

This year, this big hearted business sponsored the planting of 120 mature trees in the Ballarat district.

Site A | Food is Free Laneway, Ballarat | 10 trees

Food is Free Inc have planted out a small fruit orchard at Food Is Free Laneway in honour of their friend Kiwi Bill. A kindly soul who helped establish the Laneway in 2014 – 2015 but sadly passed away with cancer. Having left a big mark on the Food Is Free Inc. team, they promised Kiwi Bill to plant a fruit orchard upon his passing for visitors to the food security platform to forever remember him.

The orchard was planted by neighbours of the Laneway and plans are afoot to launch it with St Patrick’s Primary students returning to plant some alyssum and other bee and pollinator attracting flowers at the feet of the fruit trees. The trees will produce beautiful fruit in a few years once established, providing food for the neighbourhood, and visitors to the Laneway will enjoy feijoa, fig, nectarine, apples, pears and cherries in the years to come.

Having enjoyed a long-established partnership, Food Is Free Inc. has conducted & workshops with hundreds of the St Patrick’s Primary School students in the seven years Food Is Free Inc. has been operating in Ballarat. It is a lovely thought that Harrison Funerals, have assisted tree plantings for our hometown (Ballarat) to continually bring about community cohesion and address some long-term food security issues our town experiences.

Food Is Free Inc. is a grassroots not-for-profit food security and sustainability education charity based in Ballarat operating since 2014 over two sites – Food Is free Laneway and Food Is Free Green Space. It is run by 50 fabulous volunteers.

The tree planting session was made possible by the kind donation from Brian and Marie Harrison of Harrison Funerals (Ballarat). The project was facilitated by Fifteen Trees. A local nursery and soil health company provided the soil and organic fertilisers to help the trees grow, and a local winery provided wine barrels to house the trees in – making it a 100% locally funded project with donated goods. A classic example of community, schools and businesses coming together for the greater good.

Site B | New Showgrounds, Mt Rowan | 20 trees

The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society Inc recently planted 20 bare rooted trees at the site of the new show-grounds just north of Ballarat. The Society were very grateful for the trees and extended their gratitude to Harrisons.

Over time, these trees will enhance the new Ballarat Showgrounds and give shelter for the public in hot weather.

More sites on their way. Stay tuned!

If you are also interested in how your business and Fifteen Trees could work together, contact Bianca at <[email protected]> and ask for a no obligation proposal.

Writer – Lou Ridsdale

Lou is a big-minded green thumb, Earth Lover, big-hearted nature freak plus a savvy media and horticulture expert, who passionately believe that everyone is capable of leading a more nourishing and sustainable life. Her passion for education + communication being the most empowering tool for change is reflected in her setting up her own digital/comms agency Hey Hoe Let’s Grow Socials. She also founded Food Is Free Inc. a unique grassroots food security platform specialising in food security education. She fell in love with trees after reading The Magic Faraway Tree as a child.

You can find Lou here